Strategic infrastructure spending sustained over several decades has positioned the UAE as one of the strongest performers globally in road quality, with the country claiming third place in a 2026 ranking compiled by World Population Review.
The assessment drew on international evaluations and specialist infrastructure reports. Among the criteria factored into each country’s standing were the state of infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, safety records, traffic management, regional connectivity, and overall driving conditions.
The UAE finished ahead of a field that included the Netherlands, Japan, Austria, France, Germany, the United States, and Oman. Singapore claimed the top spot, credited to a network underpinned by smart technologies and sophisticated traffic management. Switzerland followed in second, recognised for road surfaces that hold up across a range of weather conditions.
The ranking treats road quality as a marker of a nation’s economic progress, engineering capacity, and willingness to commit funds to infrastructure.
A network of modern highways links the UAE’s major urban centres, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi connected by routes fitted with smart traffic systems, advanced technologies, and updated lighting. Multi-lane expressways form part of this build-out, which the report tied to safer and more efficient movement of people across the country.
